SCOTTSDALE - CNA National has appointed Erika S. Ahern to the company’s senior management team as general counsel, a newly created position, effective April 11.

“The creation of this position and our selection of Erika to fill it provides further evidence of our corporate commitment to the importance of regulatory issues,” says Joe Becker, president and CEO of CNAN. “We are thrilled that she is bringing her legal expertise and industry knowledge to our senior management team.”

Ahern is responsible for implementing the firm’s comprehensive compliance program, encompassing all regulatory and legislative activities throughout the United States and Canada, reported F&I and Showroom.

“I am impressed by CNA National’s commitment to excellence,” Ahern says. “I look forward to working with the exceptional team responsible for positioning this company as a consistent industry leader for F&I products and services.”

Ahern obtained her B.A. from Siena College and her J.D. from Southern Illinois University. She is a member of the New York and Illinois State Bar Associations.

Ahern began her career as a litigator, successfully first-chairing more than a dozen jury trials in Chicago. Later, she joined Allstate Insurance Company’s Law and Regulation department as an in-house corporate attorney, providing counsel to a variety of Allstate’s business units including claims, rating, marketing and the New York and New Jersey Regional offices.

In 2008, Ahern was transferred to the Allstate Dealer Service’s offices in Jacksonville, Fla. As general counsel for ADS, she had accountability for legal risk management associated with F&I products including service contracts, GAP and ancillary product lines, as well as oversight of the compliance team and third-party contract negotiations.